Bed lift



Patented Nov. 20, 1934 UNITED STATEE BED LIFT

Frederick Thomas Ridley, London, England, as-

signor to Frederick William Ridley, Edgbaston,

Birmingham, England Application October 2,

1933, Serial No. 691,793

In Great Britain October 4, 1932 7 Claims.

This invention relates to an inflatable body for use as a bed lift and a support for patients either in conjunction with the use of bed pans or for raising and supporting the body for medical attention or bandaging.

Various kinds of inflatable cushions have already been proposed for use in connection with bedridden persons.

One common type of inflated body is an inflated body usually of special shape and applied to the top of a bed pan so as to increase the comfort of the patient when making use of a bed pan.

Another type of inflated body is that which 'itself is inflated and is then used as a bed pan. Bodies of this type have sometimes been generally of U shape in plan and have been connected at the bottom by a sheet of material,

. ,While in other cases such bodies have been con- 'structed as rings having a covering sheet at the bottom.

Further inflated bodies have been proposed for use as supports for patients during operations, and in some cases such inflated bodies have been of substantially U shape in plan.

In all these known constructions of inflated bodies, however, there has been no suggestion that the inflated body shall be used as a bed lift, i. e. that it shall be placed under the patient 'and then inflated for the purpose of raising the patient from the surface of the bed. In most cases the constructions proposed have been unsuitable for use in this manner as they would not provide the necessary strength and stability to allow them to be used in this manner.

An inflated bed lift has, however, been proposed, and in this instancethe inflated body was simply of cylindrical form and was placed under the small of the back of the patient and then inflated.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved bed lift primarily for use in raising patients preparatory to the use of the bed pan, but also applicable for use in raising nd supporting patients during bandaging or operations.

A particular object of the present invention is to provide an inflatable body which will have inherent in its construction the necessary stability and strength to form a secure and unmoving support for the patient while the body is being inflated. In this connection it is known ,that of whatever form they may be constructed, inflated bodies have a strong tendency to take a circular form in cross section when inflated, and it is impracticable to construct an inflatable body which will have sides or portions which will remain fiat under inflation unless such sides are to be made of rigid material.

A further object of the present invention is to construct the inflatable body so that when it is placed under the patient, the patient will be lifted with a uniform movement. This is of particular importance in connection with cases where operations have been performed.

In order to make the bed lift suitable for use in connection with bed pans, it is convenient to construct the bed lift with a portion which is generally of U shape in plan, and one of the advantages of the present invention is that my improved construction incorporates means for ensuring the stability of the limbs of the U shaped portion of the device when under load, i. e. means are provided to prevent the twosubstantially parallel limbs from lateral or rollingv movement when under load. 1

Further, my improved bedlift is proportions substantially in accordance with the weight distribution of the part of the patient to be lifted.

Another point that has been given consideration is that the bed lift should be constructed so that it can be used successfully with patients of varying sizes.

The present invention provides an appliance which can be placed, and if required may remain, beneath the part of the body which is to be raised, the appliance being inflated or otherwise expanded by pressure fluid to produce the lifting movement and to support the patient in the raised position, the appliance comprising a. hollow body having a portion of substantially U shape, the end parts of the arms of the U beingconnected together at the top and bottom by relatively thin 'members so as to prevent them from moving apart or from rolling laterally while permitting of the insertion of a bed pan between them and between the connecting portions. V

In one example, the general form of the hollow body may be that of a letter H, the two parallel outside limbs each consisting of a substantially cylindrical or somewhat conical mem her, and the transverse portion also being of substantially cylindrical form. In cross sectional shape all the limbs may be of approximately circular form, while the forward ends of the outer limbs, which may be the larger ends, are preferably rounded or part-spherical.

The forward portions of the longitudinal limbs are connected by strips of material at the, top and bottom so as to prevent lateral rolling when a under load.

If required the space between the two outer limbs on one side .of the transverse limb may be occupied bya further inflatable chamber Which may form a back support, and if this is used it may be inflated separately from the main structure.

The appliance may thus comprise a plurality of separate inflatable chambers which may be inflated to different pressures. Pressure used for the back support compartment may be less than that used for the main compartment so that the patients back will be supported on a body which is somewhat hollow at the centre whereby the patient will be automatically contralized thereby.

posed across the top of the U shaped part of the body, and it may beprovided with a large opening at the centre, at the rear edge of which a funnel-dike flap extends downwardly, this funnel-like flap being of importance in connection with the use of a bed pan.

The part of the seat extending around the opening or partially around the opening may be of hollow form so that it can be inflated independently of the inflation of the other chambers or bodies. By this means additional lift can be obtained over and above that which is obtained by inflating the main body.

The two longitudinallimbs of the main body are connected together at the base, and at or near the forward end, this connection may be stiffened by providing a pocket in the material in which a strip or rod of rigid material may be inserted, this pocket and strip being transverse to'the longitudinal centre line of the appliance.

The appliance is preferably provided with positioning means so that it will not move in the bed, and for this purpose the ends of the main limbs may be provided with tapes to which metal or other eyes are attached for receiving straps adapted to be connected by tapes or fur ther straps to wire attachment members at the ends of the bed, the said wire attachment members'being provided with hooks or the like to engage the bed frame.

Referring to the drawing:-

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing one form of the appliance.

Figure, 2 is a sectional view in side elevation taken on the centreline.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken approximately on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a transverse section taken approximately on the line 4,-4 of Figure 2.

' In the construction illustrated, the main part of the appliance is in the shape of aletter H, there being two substantially parallel circular section limbs 1, 2, these being spaced apart and being slightly tapering. The larger ends of these limbs which are shown at 3 are formed of partspherical shape so that they will not provide a hard edge under the legs of the patient.

I prefer to make the longitudinal limbs 1 and 2 vof somewhat tapering form with the larger ends forming the parallel limbs of the U shaped portion of the appliance, as I find that in this way the lift of the appliance is more accurately proportioned to the weight distribution of the patient.

The two chambers 1 and 2 are connected together by a transverse limb 4 which is of approximately cylindrical form and which is in interior communication with the two longitudinal limbs 1, 2, so that they can all be inflated together and to the same-pressure.

The main use of the appliance is to raise patients for the use of bed pans, but it may also be used for raising patients bodily to facilitate inspection or bandaging.

The appliance may conveniently be made in three main parts. The longitudinal limbs 1 and 2 of the main body and the base 5 which connects them may be formed out of onesheet having a rectangular centre part which forms the base, and having two portions, one at each side, with converging edges which can be folded over'and solutioned or vulcanized at 35 to form the longitudinal air compartments. The ends of these longitudinal compartments are to be of part-spherical shape, and a sheet at these ends is cut to form flaps which can afterwards be joined as indicated at 22 to form the ends of the compartments of the required shape.

The second part l may be a strip of material which is folded tocylindrical form and shaped at its ends 'to embrace the inner sides of the longitudinal limbs of the body to which they are attached.

The third main part 8 or back rest portion may be of substantially rectangular form and may have one end vulcanized or solutioned to one end of the base as indicated at 36 and may be folded over to connect the upper portions of the two longitudinal members. At its forward end this sheet of material is provided with two openings indicated at 7 for forming the opening through the inflated seat, and the forward end of this sheet is folded back upon itself as indicated at 37 until the openings come into register, when the edges 38, 39 and 40 are vulcanized or solutionedso as to form a hollow body around the said opening or partially around it.

The edge of one of the openings constituting the seat opening may be folded downwardly through the opening in the lower part of the sheet, and then maybe turned outwardly, and secured.

As indicated at 41 a funnel-shaped piece is applied to the rear edge of the seat opening, this funnel-shaped piece extending downwardly through the opening.

A pocket 42 may be formed extending transversely across the forward part of the base 5, and a rigid strip or rod of vulcanite or other material may be inserted therein to position the forward ends of the two members 1 and 2 more effectively. g

The forward ends of the two longitudinal limbs 1 and 2 are thus connected together at the top and bottom by the seat member indicated generally at 6 and by the base 5. These connections, and particularly the seat member 6, give stability to the appliance, particularly While it is being inflated and deflated, and prevent lateral movement or rolling of the forward ends of the limbs 1 and 2.

The seams in the appliance are preferably formed by overlapping the material and vulcanizing, and strips of rubber tape or the like may be vulcanized over any of these seams if desired.

The appliance is preferably constructed so that any seams or overlapping parts such, for instance, as the seams 22, are arranged so far as possible below the upper surface, so that no discomfort or friction will be caused by contact between such seams and the body of the patient.

Further, when the appliance is deflated, the forward ends 3 of the two limbs 1 and 2 fold inwardly, and the whole appliance folds flat and does not cause discomfort even if it is left permanently under the patient.

The appliance is preferably made with a rubber external surface so that it can be Washed with antiseptic when required.

Suitable pipe connections 11, 12 and 30 are provided and may be vulcanized together, these pipes being connected respectively to the back rest, the main body and to the seat 32 and leading to a compressed air cylinder such as 13. The compressed air cylinder is fitted with a siX- armed metal connection 14. The three pipe connections 11, 12 and 30 may be carried into the appliance at the same point, and the pipe connection 11 may be taken through the limb 1 to the back compartment indicated generally at 9, while the pipe connection 30 may be taken down the compartment 1 and into the inflated part of the seat 6.

The pipes 11, 12 and 30 are connected to three of the arms 15, 16 and 31, while the fourth arm 17 forms a connection to atmosphere. All the four arms are provided with cocks 18 so that the main part of the appliance, the back rest 9, and the seat 6 can be separately inflated, and each part can be exhausted to atmosphere by closing the ordinary cock 19 of the cylinder 13 and opening the cock 18 of the arm 17 and the appropriate cock 18 in one of the other branches.

The vertical arm 43 of this fitting is preferably provided with a spring-loaded relief valve which can be adjusted to blow off at any de sired pressure. In practice this relief valve is set to the desired pressure and commences to blow off and give an audible alarm when the pressure is reached. This provision prevents over-inflation of any part of the apparatus.

Although I have described the use of a cylinder of compressed air for inflation, it is of course to be understood that an ordinary air pump may be used instead if desired.

The appliance is preferably constructed of rubber covered fabric, and for positioning it in a bed, straps 20 of the same material are fixed to the underside, these straps being provided with eyes 21 to which straps 26 are attached,

these straps being adjustable in length and capable of being connected by tapes 23 to wire attachment members 24 having hooks 25 for engaging the end members of the bed frame.

In operation, the appliance may be placed beneath the patient whenever required, or it may be left in position beneath the patient permanently and inflated when necessary.

The appliance may be used as an airbed by deflating the seat and reducing the pressure in the main body and back portions, and if required water may be placed in the back portion to form a waterbed.

Further, the appliance may be used conveniently in conjunction with any form of bed' v sling.

What I claim then is:-

1. A bed lift comprising a hollow inflatable body of H form in plan, and a second inflatable compartment formed between the longitudinal limbs and the transverse limb, the said second compartment forming a back rest.

2. A bed lift comprising a hollow inflatable body of H form in plan, one pair of adjacent ends of the longitudinal limbs being connected together at top and bottom by spaced connecting members, and a second inflatable compartment formed between the opposite ends of the longitudinal limbs.

3. A bed lift comprising a hollow inflatable body having a portion of substantially U shape, the end parts of the limbs of the U being connected together at top and bottom by spaced connecting members, and the top connection being formed by a seat portion having an opening therein.

4. A bed lift comprising a hollow inflatable body having a portion of substantially U shape, the end parts of the limbs of the U being connected together at top and bottom by spaced connecting members, the top connection being formed by a seat portion having an opening therein, and a flap on said seat portion extending partly around the edge of said opening.

5. A bed lift comprising a hollow inflatable body of H form in plan, a second inflatable compartment formed between the longitudinal limbs and the transverse limb at one side of said transverse limb, the said second compartment forming a back rest, and a hollow inflatable seat member said seat member being connected between said longitudinal limbs at the opposite side of the transverse limb, said seat member having an opening.

6. A bed lift comprising a hollow inflatable body of H form in plan, an inflating pipe connected to said body, a second inflatable compartment formed between the longitudinal limbs and the transverse limb at one end of said body, an inflating pipe connected to said compartment, the said second compartment forming a back rest, a hollow inflatable seat member connected across the longitudinal limbs at the opposite end of said body, said seat member having an opening and an inflating pipe connected to said seat member so that the body, the compartment and. the seat member can be separately inflated to dlfierent pressures if desired.

7. A bed lift comprising a hollow inflatable body of H form in plan, an inflating pipe connected to said body, a second inflatable compartment formed between the longitudinal limbs and the transverse limb, an inflating pipe connected to said compartment, the said second compartment forming a back rest, a hollow inflatable seat member connected to said body and having an opening, an inflating pipe connected to said seat member, and an adaptor for attachment to a compressed air vessel, said adaptor having a plurality of valve controlled branches one for each of said pipes, and a loaded blow-off valve.

FREDERICK THOMAS RIDLEY. 

